Thomson inquiry focuses on trio

The minority federal government will head back to Parliament under the cloud of an investigation into the finances of the Health Services Union, which is considering making adverse findings against three individuals.

Fair Work Australia’s acting general manager Bernadette O’Neill confirmed on Friday that an investigation into the HSU’s national office was “nearing conclusion" once a number of individuals were given a chance to comment.

Embattled Labor MP
Craig Thomson
, who holds the central NSW seat of Dobell by a margin of 3.9 per cent, said he had not received any findings or results of the inquiry into the union, where he was previously national secretary. “I maintain I have done nothing wrong and I will co-operate with the authority as it continues to look at the matter," he told the Weekend Financial Review.

But Ms O’Neill said in a statement that “letters of findings of possible contraventions" were sent on December 12 and 14. The letters and supporting material totalled more than 6500 pages, she said.

“Varying deadlines to respond were given depending on the volume of material to which a response was sought. Three persons have been granted limited extensions. The final response is due on March 5, 2012."

Ms O’Neill said that alleged contraventions could lead to civil penalties being sought, Federal Court proceedings or reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions “for action in relations to possible criminal offences".

FWA is under pressure to complete the inquiry into the HSU’s national office that began in April 2009, which include allegations of credit card misuse when Mr Thomson was HSU national secretary. Victorian Police are examining the same material.

NSW Police have set up a taskforce to examine allegations a printing company paid secret commissions to Mr Thomson and HSU general secretary
Michael Williamson
, who has voluntarily taken leave while investigations are conducted. Both deny the claims.

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The HSU’s current national secretary,
Kathy Jackson
, has insisted she initiated inquiries into the HSU’s finances after succeeding Mr Thomson. Ms Jackson said on Friday that the FWA had raised her non-attendance at four meetings of the union’s national executive in late 2006 and early 2007 when there were “good reasons" to explain it.

She said the FWA tribunal had also raised the late filing of the 2006-07 financial return of the HSU’s national office, but she had only learned in early 2009 that it had not been lodged.

The union’s auditors were “unable to produce financial statements on time because of irregularities relating to [Mr] Thomson’s time in office then being investigated". Ms Jackson had received accounting and legal advice that a “fresh and accurate" return would have to be prepared.

“That’s why I’m now appalled that someone in the FWA has leaked documents to the press to smear me; trying to associate me with Thomson’s actions," Ms Jackson said in a statement. “You have to ask yourself what the FWA are up to."

Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
said the FWA inquiry was independent. “The investigation is in progress and it should conclude."

Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
called on the Prime Minister to state whether she still had full confidence in Mr Thomson. “This is not just an issue for Fair Work Australia," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Thomson’s future in Parliament has taken on new significance after independent MP
Andrew Wilkie
withdrew his support for the government earlier this month because his demand for there to be tougher rules on poker machines by 2014 was not met.

Mr Wilkie is one of four independents and Greens whose support allowed Ms Gillard and Labor to form government. His decision reduced Labor’s majority in the lower house from two votes to one vote.

Meanwhile, Mr Williamson said in an email that he had received a letter from FWA about “a number of admin/housekeeping issues", but he had not received “any correspondence re adverse findings against me".